WJPA Sports

Fort Cherry baseball, Chartiers-Houston and Bentworth softball teams all hit the road Thursday for PIAA quarterfinal playoff games. The Rangers face District 10 champion Mercyhurst Prep at Slippery Rock. The Bucs take on District 2 champion Montrose at Bald Eagle Area, while the Bearcats travel to Somerset to face District 5 champion Everett. We’ll have all three games on the WJPA Sports Network, starting at 12:45 pm. The Fort Cherry & Bentworth games will be back-to-back on WJPA-AM (1450). All three games will be available online at wjpa.com and we’re producing the NFHS video for all three games.  Watch/Listen Here

Thursday, June 4
PIAA Baseball Quarterfinals Baseball Brackets
12:45 pm 2A Fort Cherry vs. Mercyhurst Prep at Slippery Rock University, WJPA-AM (1450), Watch/Listen Here

PIAA Softball Qurterfinals Softball Brackets
2:45 pm 2A Chartiers-Houston vs. Montrose at Bald Eagle Area HS, wjpa.com  Watch/Listen Here
3:45 pm 2A Bentworth vs. Everett at Somerset Area HS, WJPA-AM (1450)  Watch/Listen Here

PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Steelers have signed tight end Darnell Washington to a new five-year contract. The towering 6-foot-7 Washington had a career-best 31 receptions for 364 yards and a touchdown last season. He was about to enter the final year of the rookie contract he signed after being selected in the third round of the 2023 draft. Washington’s size often helps him operate as a sixth offensive lineman but he has also become more involved in the passing game. Coach Mike McCarthy praises Washington’s work ethic and potential.

HOUSTON (AP) — Cam Smith hit a tiebreaking two-run triple to cap Houston’s six-run eighth inning, Isaac Paredes homered and the Astros overcame a five-run deficit to beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 11-9 on Wednesday night. Yordan Alvarez had four hits and two RBIs for the Astros. Smith and Paredes had two hits and three RBIs apiece. AJ Blubaugh (3-2) pitched the eighth inning to get the victory. Josh Hader made his season debut and worked a scoreless ninth for the save, ending the Pirates’ winning streak at four. Houston starter Spencer Arrighetti, who went 4-1 in five starts with a 0.93 ERA in May, allowed four runs in four innings. Henry Davis hit his first career grand slam in the fourth inning for Pittsburgh.

NEW YORK (AP) — Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred worries the owners’ salary cap proposal could lead to a work stoppage like the one that canceled the 1994 World Series. Owners last week made their first cap proposal since then, citing the failure of the luxury tax system. Manfred says the current system isn’t working and emphasized the need for a framework to address competitive balance. Players have vowed to fight the cap. The current collective bargaining agreement expires Dec. 1, and management is expected to impose a lockout. MLB would limit spending in 2027 and establish a payroll floor to force some teams to spend more.

SAN ANTONIO (AP) — The New York Knicks’ winning streak lives on, and they struck first in the NBA Finals. Jalen Brunson scored 30 points, Karl-Anthony Towns finished with 18 points and 12 rebounds, and the Knicks erased a 14-point second-half deficit to beat the San Antonio Spurs 105-95 in Game 1 of the finals on Wednesday night. OG Anunoby had 17 points for New York — which has won 12 consecutive playoff games, the sventh team to have such a streak in NBA history. Victor Wembanyama had 26 points and 12 rebounds for the Spurs, but he shot 6 for 21 from the field in his finals debut.